Circuit-controller.



P. H. ZIMMER.

CIRCUIT CONTROLLER. APPLICATION mm mm. I. 1913.

Patented A r. 20, 1915.

'tion by a stop 6 in the UNITED STATES PATENT onmcn.

PAUL H. ZIMMER, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOBi TO THE CUTLERHHAMMEB MFG. (30., OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION OF WISCONSIN.

CIRCUIT-CONTROLLER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 20, 1915.

Application fl1ed March 1, 1918. Serial No. 751,499.

' State of Wisconsin, have invented new and useful Improvements in Circuit-Controllers, of which the followi'ng is a. full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in circuit controllers.

The various objects and advantages of my invention will be hereinafter clearly and fully set forth.

In order to disclose the nature and characteristic featuresof my invention I shall describe the embodiment thereof illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

My invention is not limited to the specific embodiment thereof selected for the purpose of illustration.

The drawing shows a schematic and diagrammatic view of a motor controller embodying one form of my invention.

The controller illustrated includes a rheostat l and a. main line switch 2. The rheostat is provided with a pivoted arm 3 and the main line switch with a pivoted arm 4. These arms" are provided with a releasable connection which I shall now describe.

The rheostat arm 3 carries a pivoted awl 5 having its movement limited In one irecath of a lug 7 thereon. This pawl is a a ted when the rheostat arm 3 is in initia position and when the main switch is open. to engage the underside of a roller 8 carried by the main switch arm 4. This establishes a connecti on whereby movement of the rheostat arm 3 to the left will cause movement of the main switch arm 4 to the right. This operation of the arm 4: closes the main switch while movement of the rheostat arm in the direction specified tends to accelerate the motor as will later be explained.

As soon as the main switch is closed the pawl 5 on the rheostat arm disen agesthe roller 8 on the main switch arm. he rheostat arm'is then free to move independently until. reset by the rheostat arm. This necessitates the return of the rheostat arm to its initial position as illustrated. Upon return movement of the rheostat arm the awl 5 carried thereby strikes the upper side of the roller but during continued movement of the rheostat arm rocks upon its pivot and finally drops back into a position under the roller as illustrated. The main switch and rheostat arm are thereby again operatively connected. Thus the necessity of any special operation to operatively connect the rheostat arm and main switch is entirely obviated. Operation of the rheostat arm a single direction both closes the main switch and as will later be explained varies the resistance controlled thereby.

The rheostat arm 3 moves over a series of contact buttons 9 to regulate a resistance R. The arm 3 is biased toward the osition illustrated by a spring 10 coiled a out its pivot and having one end connected to a pin 11 on said arm and its opposite end connected to said pivot. For holding the arm 3 in its extreme left hand osition I have provided on the main switc arm 4 a pawl 13 havingat its extremity a projection 14 adapted to enga e a lug 15 on the extremity of the arm 3. The awl 13 as will later be more full explain is moved into and out of operative relation with the rheostat arm by the main switch 4. The pawl is preferably made yielding to lateral pressure to permit the lu 15 on the rheostat arm 3 to pass the pro ection 14 thereon when the rheostat arm is moved to the left.

The main switch is crating contacts 17 an 18. Th s switch 1s also provided with a return spring 19 connected similarly to the spring of the rheostat arm but arranged to bias the main switch arm 4 to the left. The main switch is thus biased to open position. It is adapted to be held in closed position by a pivoted latch 20 having a hooked portion 21 adapted to engage a pin 22 on the arm 4. The latch is preferably biased either by gravity or special means in a direction to disengage the pin on the main switch arm or, in other words, to release the main switch arm. The latch is adapted to be moved into holding position and retained in such position by an 'electro-magnet 23.

which may be pivoted upon the same stud as rovided with coop the latch 20. The armature 24 is connected to the latch by a spring 25. This spring allows the pin on the mam switch arm to ride over the hooked portion of the latch to permit automatic lockin of the main switch. The magnet 23 as Will later be explained may be of the no volta type. When the magnet 23 is denergize the latch frees the main switch allowing the same to open.

A magnet 26 which, as will later be explained, ma be an overload magnet, is provided for tripping the latch 20 to release the main switch. This magnet is provided with a movable lunger carrying a rod 27 adapted when tl ie magnet is energized to strike the rear end of the latch, thereby rocking the same against the action of the spring 25 to release the main switch.

The device described is illustrated as controllin a motor 28. The motor 28 is shown as of the shunt wound type bein provided with an armature A and a shunt eld winding F. It should, of course, be understood that the device might be used .for controlling other ty es of motors.

I shall now describe the operation and functions of the controller at t e same time clearl setting forth the circuit connections there or.

Assuming that the main switch and rheostat are in t e positions illustrated, the motor will be disconnected from circuit. With the parts in the positions illustrated, the motor may be started b movement of the rheostat arm 3 to the le This movement of the rheostat arm, as previously described, closes the main switch. A circuit is thereby established from one line of a supply circuit 30 through the windin of magnet 26 by conductor 31 throu h the main switch contacts 17 and 18 an through the main switch arm 4 to its pivotal point, by a conductor 32 to the pivotal point of the rheostat arm, thence throu h the rheostat arm and resistance R by com iuctor 34 through the motor armature to the opposite line of the supply circuit. At the same time circuit is closed from conductor 32 by a conductor 36 through the-shunt field winding F of the motor to the main line. The motor is thereby started but at a slow speed owing to the insertion of the resistance R. Also upon closure of the main switch a circuit is established from one of the contacts 9 by a conductor 37 through a protective resistance 38 and the winding of magnet 28 and condoctor 39 to the main line. The magnet 23 is thereby energized and attracts its armature 24. This sets the latching member 20 in a position to hold the main switch closed. Still further, the closure of the main switch throws the pawl 18 into the position shown in dotted lines, whereupon it will lock the rheostat arm in its final position. Continued movement of the rheostat arm gradually removes the resistance R from the armature circuit of the motor, thereb graduall bringing the motor up to spec When e rheostat arm has been operated to remove all resistance the lug 15 thereon passes the projection 14 on the pawl 13 whereupon said pawl locks the rheostat arm in full running position. Should there be a failure of voltage or an overload, the latch 20 would operate to release the main switch. The main switch would thereupon open under the influence of the spring 19. This would open the motor circuit and at the same time release the rheostat arm 3. The rheostat arm 3 would then return to initial position. In returning to initial position the rheostat arm reinserts the resistance R and reestablishes the operative connections between itself and the main switch. Accordingly, the rheostat comes to rest in a position to insure due protection to the motor upon restarting. Also upon the return movement of the rheostat arm the connection between said arm and the main line switch is automatically reestablished. The motor may be again started by a single operation of the rheostat arm which first closes the main switch and then removes the starting resistance.

Of course the connection of the rheostat arm to the main switch may be accomplished by various other means than those illustrated without departing from the scope of my invention. Likewise many other modifications may be made without departing from the scope of my invention.

- What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is as follows 1. In combination, two switch members independently biased to their respective initial positions, means cooperating with one of said members after operation thereof to restrain the same against its biased movement and a latching device for the other switch member carried by said former member.

2. In combination, two switch members independently biased to their respective initial positions and one being operable by the other, means to restrain the operated member against return movement and a device carried by said operated member to engage said operating member to restrain the latter against return movement.

3. In combination, two switch members biased to their respective initial positions and-one being operable by the other, means to restrain the operated member a ainst return movement and means to restram the operating member against return movement, said last means being mechanicall rendered effective and ineffective by sai operated member.

4. In combination, two switch members biased to their respective initial positions and one being operable by the other, means to releasably lock the operated member in the position to which it is moved by the operating member and a latch for holding the operatin member in a redetermined position, sai latch being mec anically controlled by the o erated member to release the operating mem er upon release of the former member.

5. In combination, two switch members biased to their respective initial positions, an operative connection between said members whereby movement of one toward its operative position moves the other toward its operative position, electro-magnetically controlled latching means for one of said mem bers and latching means for the other member mechanically controlled by the former member.

6. In combination, two switch members, said members when in said redetermined sitions and means operative y connecting said members when in said predeterminedpositions whereby one, when moved toward effective position, will set the other in effective position, said means then releasing said members.

7. In combination, two switch members biased to move in opposite directions and means operatively connecting said members when at their limits of biased movement whereby operation of one toward efi'ective position will set the other in effective position, said means then freeing said members from one another.

8. In combination, two switch members both biased toward predetermined positions and one being operable by the other and mechanical means associated with one member for preventing the return movement of the other member while the former is in an operative position, said means releasing the latter member upon movement of the former from said operative position.

9. In combination, two switch members both biased toward predetermined positions and one being operable by the other, mechanical means associated with one member for preventing the return movement of the other member while the former member is in a predetermined position, said means releasing the latter member upon movement of the former from said predetermined position, and means for holdin said former member in said predetermine position.

10. In combination, two switch members biased to move in opposite directions, means for holdin one of said members in a predetermine position and mechanical means associated with said member for holding the other member against return movement, said latter means being effective only while said first mentioned member is in said predetermined position.

11. In combination, two switch members biased to move toward one another, means operat vel connecting said members at their limits of iased movement, whereb one of the same when moved toward effective position will move the other toward efl'ective position, means for holding the latter member in a redetermined position and means associated with the latter member for bolding the former member a ainst return movement, said last mentione means being efiective only while said latter member is in said predetermined position.

12. The combination with the pivoted arm of a rheostat of a pivoted main line switch, said arm being biased toward initial position and said switch being biased toward open position, means operatively connecting said arm and said switch when at the limits of their biased movement, whereby operation of the former toward final position will close said main 'switch, and mechanical means associated with said main switch for holding said arm against return movement, said second mentioned means being effective only while said switch is closed.

13. The combination with the pivoted arm of a rheostat of a pivoted main line switch, said arm being biased toward initial position and said switch bein biased toward open position, means operatively connecting said arm and said switch when at the limits of their biased movement, where v operation of the former toward final pos on will close said main switch, mechanical means associated with said main switch for holding said arm against return movement, said second mentioned means being effective only while said switch is closed, and means for holding said switch closed.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two witnesses.

PAUL H. ZIMMER.

Witnesses FRANK H. HUBBARD, LEONARD A. WATSON.

1: is hereby certified that in Letters Patent Ne. 1,136,639, granted April 20,1915, upon the application of Paul H. Zimmer, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, for an improvement in CircuitControllers, an error appears in the printed specification requiring correction as follows: Page 3, lines 1940, for the words said members when in said predetermined sitions read both biased to return to predetermined positimw; and that the said Letters Patent should be rend with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Oflice.

Signed and sealed this 25th day of May, A. D., 1915.

[SEAL] R. F. WHITEHEAD,

Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

